Nord VPN

Ease of Use

Downloading the client is a straightforward process, with the website offering a version for all major operating systems. Once it’s downloaded you may log into the client, where you select a location from a list of 52 countries and connect to one of its servers. Under the client’s “Settings” tab, you can implement features like Smart Play and the Process Kill list.

The VPN offers connectivity on up to six devices, for use with iPhone, iPad, Android, router, and Windows mobile.

Extensions: NordVPN offers encrypted proxy extensions for Chrome and Firefox browsers;

Adblocker: NordVPN has CyberSec feature that blocks dangerous websites and lets users avoid annoying ads;

VPN Location

As of 2016, NordVPN offers servers in Austria, France, the U.S., the U.K., Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, South Africa, Romania, Brazil, Poland, Australia, Sweden, Hong Kong, Switzerland, Russia, Lithuania, Canada, Singapore, and Germany. According to their website, you can expect the best bandwidth when you connect to the server closest to you. All together they currently have 3300+ servers in 59+ countries.

Restricted countries: with the help of obfuscated servers, NordVPN works in countries (China, the Middle East countries) where internet access is restricted and strong censorship is in place as well as in restricted local networks.

Price

Nord offers a 1-month plan, which costs $11.95, the 1-year plan is $5.75/month, and 2-year plan is $3.29/month and a special 3-year deal is only $2.75/month. I have to admit, these options are pretty great.

Privacy

NordVPN offers some important, and even unique, features and technologies to ensure the privacy of your browsing and sensitive information. They provide SSL-based 2048-bit encryption on all servers, and double data encryption on select servers. The double data encryption feature encrypts your information over two different nodes before it reaches the internet. According to their website, NordVPN is currently the only VPN on the market that offers this technology.

The “Process Kill LIst” feature lets you select which applications should be automatically shut-down in the event of a dropped VPN connection, protecting sensitive data that might otherwise be exposed. NordVPN also promises not to log your browsing information for any reason. For a full list of NordVPN features, see their table, linked here.

Speed

The VPN speed, especially on its “Ultra Fast” servers, lives up to the company’s claim to “lightning speed” service. NordVPN speeds vary from country to country, but they offer servers in the US, UK, and Canada with a feature called “Ultra Fast TV,” designed specifically for uninterrupted loading and streaming of video content. Recently Nord has optimized their quick connect algorithm, which also has been a great improvement.

Assistance Clientèle

NordVPN offers email, phone, and live support. I contacted live support, where an auto response was provided, letting me know they were experiencing delays in customer service and assured they would be right with me. It also notified me that there was one person ahead of me in line.

Just moments later, an agent helped me with my issue. When I messaged him about 30 minutes later with a question about the “Smart Play” feature for streaming Netflix, he responded quickly with advice about enabling the feature and flushing my DNS.

I followed his instructions, and then restarted my computer. When I came back on, Netflix still wouldn’t play, so I contacted customer service again. This time, a separate agent suggested two specific US servers to connect to.

After doing so, Netflix played, and the speed as excellent. I found both customer service agents professional, knowledgeable, and fast in their replies to my questions.